French Lentil Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

This simple salad, seasoned with a French vinaigrette, is a classic dish in France. It makes a wonderful, protein-rich highlight of any meal. Because the flavors continue to meld, it’s also great the next day. This recipe comes to us from Sharon Palmer, RDN, author of Plant Powered for Life.

Serves 6

1 pound (454 g) dried lentils (or 3 cups cooked; see Note)

4 cups (948 ml) water

2 teaspoons reduced sodium vegetable broth base

4 celery stalks, diced (160 g or about 11⁄2 cups)

11⁄2 cups (224 g) cherry tomatoes, halved

2 medium shallots, finely diced

1⁄4 cup (15 g) packed chopped fresh parsley

11⁄2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon herbes de Provence

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 medium garlic clove, minced

Pinch of sea salt, optional

Place the lentils, water, and broth base in a pot. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender but firm.

Remove from the heat, drain any remaining liquid, and transfer the lentils to a large bowl. Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Stir in the celery, tomatoes, shallots, and parsley.

In a small dish, make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, mustard, vinegar, herbes de Provence, black pepper, and garlic.

Add the dressing to the lentil mixture and toss. Taste and season with sea salt, if desired. Chill until serving time.

Note: If you’re in a rush, use precooked, refrigerated lentils, available at many stores. Although a classic French lentil salad uses lentils du puys (small, dark green lentils), try other varieties for a colorful twist, such as yellow, beluga (black), or multicolored lentils.

Variation: Substitute cooked beans, such as white, fava, or cranberry beans, for the lentils.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends 2000 calories a day as a reasonable average guideline for most American adults. Click here to learn how you can use the Monday 2000 to reset the calorie budget you have to spend each day. For specific calorie recommendations based on your age, metabolism and medical history, consult your doctor or nutritionist.